FG Restates Commitment To Boost Fish Production

The Federal Government on Tuesday pledged to support more than 5,000 fish farmers with feeds and fingerlings to boost fish production in the country.
Alhaji Tijjani Ishaku, Director, Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) in Kaduna State, stated this in an interview with the newsmen in Kaduna.
“The programme on fisheries has been in existence for the past two years, and it will continue this year.
“This year, the fingerlings will be given for free and beneficiaries will pay only 20 per cent of the cost of the feeds,’’ he said.
Ishaku said the overall goal of the programme was to transform agriculture into a profitable business, noting that over 800 farmers benefited from the programme in 2013.
“Fishery is one of the important areas of ATA projects; so this year, we intend to increase the number of beneficiaries to a minimum of 5,000.’’
According to the director, ATA would seek to promote employment generation and shared wealth creation along commodity value chains.
He said that the ministry had compiled a register of farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) and would provide feeds and fingerlings to them.
He said that soya beans and grand nut would be included as special crops to be handled this year.
“Kaduna State has been given the highest priority to produce more soya beans under the ATA programme.
Ishaku said that oil palm seedlings would also be distributed to farmers in two months time for transplantation, noting that “oil palm strives well in Maigana, in the southern part of the state’’.
He said that 135,000 farmers in Kaduna State would benefit from the oil palm seedlings project this year.
“Unlike last year, oil palm seedlings will not be given for free. This year, 20 per cent cost will be paid by the farmers,’’ he said.